T-Mobile Arena — Las Vegas, Nevada
A compelling light heavyweight matchup lands on the UFC 117 main card as Brazilian finisher Rodolfo Bellato meets former Cage Warriors champion Modestas Bukauskas. Both men are entering their primes, both have real momentum, and both bring contrasting styles that should produce a tactical but violent fight. With the 205‑pound division wide open behind the top contenders, this bout carries meaningful implications for the next wave of ranked fighters.
VENUE & EVENT DETAILS
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Main Card Start: 10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT
Bellato vs. Bukauskas: Expected around 11:15 PM ET / 8:15 PM PT
Cage Size: 30‑foot Octagon
Altitude: Sea level
INJURY REPORT & CAMP NOTES
Rodolfo Bellato
- No reported injuries
- Full camp at Nova União
- Focus on wrestling pressure, top control, and improved striking entries
- Coaches emphasize avoiding long-range kickboxing exchanges
Modestas Bukauskas
- Recovered from minor knee irritation early in camp
- Camp at BST Academy (UK) with additional U.S. sparring
- Emphasis on footwork, range management, and anti-wrestling
- Added more clinch defense to counter Bellato’s pressure
Both fighters enter healthy and fully prepared for a high‑stakes 205‑pound clash.
RECENT FORM & MOMENTUM
Rodolfo Bellato — Last 5 Fights
- Record: 4–1
- Wins: 2 submissions, 1 KO, 1 decision
- Loss: 1 KO
- Trend: Strong grappling, improving striking, dangerous in scrambles
Modestas Bukauskas — Last 5 Fights
- Record: 3–2
- Wins: 2 decisions, 1 KO
- Losses: 1 KO, 1 decision
- Trend: Technical striker with good movement, inconsistent against pressure wrestlers
FIGHTER MATCHUP BREAKDOWN
Striking
- Bellato: Developing boxing, heavy low kicks, uses strikes to close distance
- Bukauskas: Clean kickboxing, long-range weapons, sharp counters Edge: Bukauskas
Grappling
- Bellato: Strong takedowns, heavy top control, dangerous submissions
- Bukauskas: Solid defensive grappling but struggles against chain wrestlers Edge: Bellato
Cardio
- Bellato: Good 3‑round engine, slows if forced to strike at range
- Bukauskas: Better long-range cardio, strong late rounds Edge: Bukauskas
Fight IQ
- Bellato: Smart grappler but sometimes predictable in entries
- Bukauskas: More tactical, but can be backed up too easily Edge: Even
FIGHT HISTORY & CONTEXT
This is the first meeting between the two fighters.
Rodolfo Bellato’s UFC Trajectory
- A rising Brazilian prospect with real finishing upside
- Known for strong grappling and improving striking
- A win likely pushes him toward the top‑15 conversation
Modestas Bukauskas’ UFC Trajectory
- Former Cage Warriors champion
- Technical, experienced, and well-rounded
- A win stabilizes his UFC run and positions him for ranked matchups
BETTING TRENDS
Rodolfo Bellato Trends
- 4 of last 5 wins by finish
- 3–0 when securing 2+ takedowns
- 0–2 when out‑struck by 25+ significant strikes
Modestas Bukauskas Trends
- 5 of last 7 fights have gone to decision
- 3–1 when landing 40+ significant strikes
- 0–3 when taken down 3+ times
Matchup Trends
- Bellato’s grappling is the X‑factor
- Bukauskas needs space and movement
- Early cage control likely determines the fight’s direction
FIGHT ODDS
Rodolfo Bellato – 102
Modestas Bukauskas – 118
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, May 15, 2026
